Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-03-15
WOLSELEY ON LEE
A British Soldiers Estimate Of the
Confederate Chieftain.
A HERO'S TRIBUTE TO A HERO.
General Lees Personal Qualities and
Military Genius
THE GREATEST SOLDIER OF HIS AGE.
What lie Had TO Contend With - The Place
lie Shcnld Occupy In History.
THE GREATEST SOLDIER OF HIS AGE.

count Wolseiey's article on GeneFal Lee
which appears In the March No. OF Mac
m;ndn's Magazine:
The history of the war between the
northern and southern States OF North
America Il yet to be written. General
Longs work on the great Confederate gen
eral is a contribution towards the history
OF that grand but unsuccessful struggle by
the seeding States to shake off all political
connection with the Union Government.
II will be read with interest as coming
from The pen OF one who was Lees mill.
tary secretary, and its straightforward, SOL
dier-like style will commend IT 10 all read
srs. IL Is not my intention to enter upon
any narrative OF the events which led
TO that fratricidal war. The unpre.
JUDGED outsider will generally admit
The sovereign right, both historical and
legal, which each state possessed under the
Constitution, to leave the Union when ITS
people thought fit to do so At the same
time. Of Eng,ishmen who believe that
union Is strength" and who are them
selves determined that no dismembcrment
Of their own empire shall be allowed, few
will find fault with the men OF the North
for their manly determination, come what
might, 10 resist every effort OF their bro.
theirs OF the South to break up the Union.
Ii was but natural that all Americans should
be proud Of the empire which the military
genius Of General Washington had created,
despite the efforts Of England to retain her
colonies.
1t Is nv wish to give short outline OF
General Lees life, and to describe him as
saw him IN the autumn OF 1862, when at the
head OF proud and victorious troops he
smiled at the notion OF defeat by any army
that could be sent against him. ! desire TO
make known TO the reader not only The re.
nOwned soldier, whom | believe TO have
been the greatest Of his age, but to give
some insight into the character OF one whom
/ have always considered the most perfect
man l ever met. Twenty-one years have
passed since the great Secession war ended,
but even still angry rememDrauces OF 1t
prevent Americans from taking an i'm
partial view OF the contest, and OF those
who were The leaders In ii. Outsiders
can best weigh and determine the merits OF
the chief actors on both sides; but il ia
this attempt 10 estimate General Lees
character / offend any one by the out.
spoken expression OF my opinions, hope
| may be forgiven. On one side can see,
in the logged determination OF the North,
ptrseyered in to the end through years OF
recurring failure, the spirit for when the
men OF Britain have always been remarka-
BILE. II is virtue to which the United
States owed its birth in the last century,
and its preservation in 1865. 1t is the
quality 10 which the Anglo Saxon
race is most indebted for its great po-
,ition in the world. On the other
hand / can recognize the chiyalrous
valor OF those gallant men whom Lee
led to victory-who fought not only
for fatberland and in defence OF home.
but for those rights most priced by free
men. Washington's stalwart soldiers were
styled rebels by our King and his minis.
tiers, and in like manner the men who wore
the gray uniform Of the Southern Confede-
racy were denounced as rebels from the
banks of the Potomac to the head waters OF
the st. Lawrence. Lees soldiers, we'll
versed as all Americans are IN the history
of their foreiathers' struggle against King
Georpe the Third, and believing firmly in
the justice OF their cause, saw the same vir-
tue in ore rebellion that was to be found in
the other. This was point upon which,
curing my stay In ViJginia in 1862, found
every soulherner laid the greatest stress.
1t is feeling that as yet has not been fully
acknowledged by writer's on the northern
side.
Rebellion, foul dlshonoring word,
Whose wrongful blight 80 oft hath stained
The hottest cause that tongue or sword
OF mortal ever lost or gained.
How many spirit born 10 bless
Hath sunk beneath thy whitening name,
Whom but days, an hours success,
Had waited 10 eternal fame"
TWO FIGURES.
As a looker.on | feel that both parties IN
the war have so much to be proud OF that
both can afford to hear what impartial Eng
lishmon or foreigners have TO say about
1t. Ipnltod and bubble regulations were
acquired during is progress, few Of which
will bear The test OF time. The idol mo-
menisriy set M, often ior political reasons,
crumhles in time into the daSt from which
It's limbs were perhaps originally moulded.
To me, however, two figures stand out in
that history towering above all others. both
cast in hard metal that will be forever proof
against the belittling efforts OF all future
GetractoIs. One, General Lee. the great
soldier; the other. Mr.. Lincoln, the far
seeing statesman OF iron will, Of unlnch-
ing determination. Each is a good repre-.
sensitive Of the genius that characterized
his country. As study the history OF the
Secession war, these seem 10 me the two
men who influenced il most, and who will
be recognized as its greatest heroes when
future generations OF American historians
II cord lis stirring events with impartillity.
General Lee came from the class OF land
cd gentry that has furnished England at
all tues with her most able and distin.
guisbcd leaders. The first of his family
y bo went 10 America was Richard Lee,
who IN 164l became Colonial Secretary 10
the Coy ernorOi Virginia. Tue family set
tied in Westmoreiand, one OF the most
lovely counties in that historic State.
and memters OF Il from time to time
reid high positions In the Govern
ment. Several OF the f.mily disiin.
gpished themselves during the War OF In
dependence, amongst whom was Henry, the
latber Of General Robert Lee. He raised a
mounted corps known as Lees Legion" |
IN command Of which he obtained the |
reputation OF being an able and gallant |
soldier. lie was nicknlmed by his com.
rad6s Light-liorse Harry" lie was three |
imes Governor OF bis native State. To |
him is attributed the authorship OF the |
,ulogy on General Washington, in which |
occurs the so-often-quoted senteace: |
8 First IN war, first in peace, and first In |
he hearts OF his c0untrymeD," praise that |
With equal truth might have been subse- |
Iuently applied TO his own distinguished |
OD.
BoYHOOD.
The subject Of this slight sketch. Robert |
Edward Lee. was born january 0, 1907, at |
he family place OF Stafford, in the county |
II Wesimoreland, State OF Virginia. When |
MY few years old bis parents moved 10 |
he small town Of Alexandra, which is on
he right hank OF the Potomac river nearly /
opposite Washington, but little below 1t.
lie wa but boy OF eleven when bis |
atber died. leaving his family in straight
ned circumstances. Like many other
'reat commanders be was In consequence
,rouebt up In comparative poverty, n con.
lition which has been pronounced by the
,reetest OF them rs The best trimming for sol-
Hers. During his early years he attended
day school near his home IN Alexandra.
lie was thus able in his leisure hours
o help his invalid mother In all her house.
'old concerns, and 10 afford her that watch
uI care which, owing 10 Der yery delicate
ealth, she so much needed. She was a
lever, highly gifted woman, ana by her
ond care bis character was formed aud
tanped with honest iIuthfulness. BY her
e vas taught never TO forget thar be was
Tell. born. and that, "a gentleman. honor
,ust be bis guldIDg-star through life. IL
'as from her lips he learnt his Bible, from
ef teaching be drank In the sincere belief
. revealed religion which he never lost.
| wss she who imbued her great
an with an ineraaieahle heIief m, the aff- |